Getting a Degree in a Foreign Country


Getting a Degree in a Foreign Country

Aug 16, 2010 Veronika Kaufmann

Writing and the art of writing is something you'll never stop learning about. It's a continuous job. A part of the beauty of writing and being a writer is that everything and anything you do, see and experience, will ultimately enrich your mind and increase your output.

Going Back to School and Getting a Higher Education

Because I currently live in a non-English speaking European country, I decided to enroll at the University of Vienna and major in English and American Literature. The lectures are all in English, so this was a perfect choice for me. Depending on your own individual interests and goals, choose something that will enhance and help you, in your writing or in any other aspect you choose to excel at.

With a high school diploma, I was required to do an equivalency test. For enrollment at the University of Vienna, the best course of action is to visit the "Studienberechtigungs" office (or equivalency enrollments office). A similar information center exists at most universities and the procedures and enrollment requirements may vary. Contact the respective office at the university of your choice to find out how to proceed.

The information office is perfectly geared toward people like me i.e. a non-traditional pursuer of an higher education. Most of the information is offered online at the respective university sites. As it may seem overwhelming at first, a personal visit to the offices can help in finding the perfect majors and minors, along with the courses you may have to take to get an accredited degree.

Choose Your Own pace

During the first semester, I participated in one lecture only: Introduction to English Literature. As I was still working part-time, a timid approach characterized my initial experiences at uni. I attended one class and had no clue about the workings of university life, the procedural mechanics nor even dared set foot in the library.

Reaching the Point of Engagement at Uni

The successful passage of that first exam will increase your confidence enough to enroll in several more lectures the following semester. As you increase your attendance to lectures and study groups, your confidence will rise to the occasion. Slowly but surely, you will feel at home and learn to deal with the stressful exam situations.

Invaluable Advice for Newcomers to Uni

Speak with the lecturers and the professors. Make appointments with the various department heads and talk to them. They offer invaluable advice and are extremely helpful in finding potential shortcuts when it comes to mandatory courses.

English Literature as a Major

If you choose English and American Literature as your major in a non-English speaking country, you will benefit with the "native speaker" bonus. A lot of the obligatory lectures and workshops have to do with phonetics, grammar, pronunciation and integrated language study skills. Often, the curriculum requires completing various courses before you can proceed to the more interesting pro seminars on literature and cultural studies.

As a native speaker, passing all courses is required. However, there are ways to circumvent the system and accelerate your studies by having a word with the department head. There are guidelines in place for native speakers at most universities that allow you to expedite your studies.

Adjusting to the Pace of University Life

Although the pace of university life may seem laid back compared to the life at, say, an ad agency, it is a bit misleading. Sure, one witnesses a lot of "lying/lounging in the park and chillin'" scenarios. Attendance rates at lectures decrease as the semester progresses, much to the dismay of professors surveyed in a 2009 report, done by the University of Vienna's Alumni Club. However, to achieve your goal in the shortest amount of time, don't waste any of it. Attending each lecture, class and tutorial is not only fun, it's crucial to getting your degree within a reasonable time frame. As an older student, you have a huge advantage. Use your experience from the real world and plow through.

Certainly, as mid-term exams and various other deadlines for essays and presentations loom, the panic and anxiety levels increase. Be prepared for bumps in the road. Take advantage of all resources on offer during the semester. The aforementioned tutorials that accompany many lectures are invaluable. Mostly advanced students teach these tutorials and they are ones to make friends with. They know the system inside and out and tend to be less reluctant about giving tips. Plus, they prepare you for the respective exams.

Your Personal Pace at Uni and the Librarian

My own slow motion adjustment to uni life allowed me to increase my speed at a pace I was comfortable with, being able to enjoy the scenery along the way. I pretty much know how things work now, and if I don’t know, I know whom to ask. That is pertinent to one’s success, not only at uni. Don’t be afraid to ask. No question is too banal to pose.

One last tip: make friends with the librarian.

Copyright Veronika Kaufmann. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.


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